All political parties in Kaduna state, their candidates for various elective positions, all security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday committed themselves to having a peaceful election in 2023.
The stakeholders’ commitments followed a high level meeting of political parties, candidates and stakeholders for peaceful campaigns and elections in Kaduna state, organised by the Kaduna State Peace Commission with the theme, “Building Consensus and Mobilizing Collective Action for Peaceful 2023 General Elections in Kaduna State”.
The chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon, tasked all stakeholders to abide by peace in all they do and preach peace to people around them, adding that the electorate should vote not on the line of religion or ethnicity but based on competence and track record of the candidates.
“Let’s vote for people based on their competence and track record. We should not vote on the basis of religion or ethnicity. Democracy gives you right to speak, citizens must have free will to choose their leaders. Our religious leaders, don’t ask your members to vote for a particular party or candidate. It is wrong leadership. Not all members of a church or mosque belong to the same party. Party leaders should educate their followers and encourage them to commit to peaceful elections. Citizens should resort to constitutional means if they are aggrieved.”
The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi who spoke on behalf of all gubernatorial candidates in the state, tasked all on the essence of democracy which is the choice to make one’s preference.